A personal, guided tour to the best scoops and stories every day in The Wall Street Journal, from Editor in Chief Gerard Baker.

The pace of U.S. manufacturing has picked up over the past 12 months thanks to steady global economic growth, a rise in energy and other commodity prices, and increased business confidence. Although not all industries are feeling the effects, makers of semiconductors, food products and bulldozers, among others, are on the upswing as various readings of spending, sentiment and employment have climbed, while stock markets have reached record highs. Rising business investment indicates companies...